Shearing metal sheets



'Aprillo, 1928. 1,665,319

a. E. MIRFIELD SHEARING METAL SHEETS Filed Jan. 10, 1925 Sheets-Sheet l- 5 h! i m l INVENTOR 8 gW flew April 10, 1928.

G. E. MIRFIELD SHEARING METAL SHEETS Fil ec1 Jan. 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR April 10, 1928.

G. E. MIRFIELD SHEARING METAL SHEETS Filed Jan. 10, 1925 V 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 10, 1928.

74 INVENTIOR www April 10, 1928.

G. E. MIRFIELD SHEARING METAL SHEETS Filed Jail. 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,u Q X 1 1 4 AAAA 7/6 11 I l I m mm mm INVENTOR April 10, 1928.

G. E. MIRFIELD SHEARING METAL SHEETS,

Filed Jan. 10. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MN i MN. 0 win 3 Q mm -23 w Patented Apr. ll), 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. MIR/FIELD, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

SHEARING METAL SHEETS.

Application filed January 1925.

My invention relates to shearing metal sheets, and more particularly to shear ng packs of sheets, although it may be apphed to shearing single sheets.

Heretofore in rolling mills the practice has been to takethe pack as it is finally rolled and shear the edges thereof successively. This pack usually consists of six sheets doubled over to make a pack of twelve sheets in thickness, each sheet being doubled over to form what is called the bound end ale of the pack. The practice has been to take this pack from the finishing rolls and deliver it to a stationary table at one side of which was the, usual guillotine type of shear. The workmen first presented one side edge of the pack to the shear, then drew the pack back on the table, turned it through 180, and presented the other side edge thereof to the shear. Then the pack was turned 90 and the end edge of the pack opposite the bound end was cutoil. Finally the pack was turned 180 and the bound end of the pack sheared off. The accuracy with which the opposite edges of the packs were sheared. parallel to each other depended entirely upon the skill of the workmen, and it was necessary where specifications called for accurate dimensioning to reshear the sheets singly.

The shearing mechanism shown in the preferred embodiment of the present invention has two shears of the usual guillotine type set at right angles to each other. The packs are carried on a table which first presents one side edge of each pack and the end edge thereof opposite the bound end to the shears, which shear off such side edge and end edge. The table is then withdrawn and is automatically given a rotation of 180 and the pack represented to the shears for shearing off the two remaining edges. It is there fore possible to accomplish the shearing of the four edges of a pack with this mechanism in less than half the time required by the old method. Furthermore, the mechanism embodies means for automatically positioning the packs for the shearing operations, whereby the shearing of the opposite edges of the packs parallel tc each other does not depend upon the skillof the workmen. This insures accurate work and eliminates the necessity for re-shearing individual sheets in order to bring their edges into parallelism. p

Serial No. 1,563.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein l have illustrated shearing mechanism embodying a preferred form of my invention:

Figure l is a sectional plan view of the mechanism, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3;

Figure 2 shows the mechanism partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, the section being taken on the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a view showing the mechanism in end elevation, the truck which supports thepinch rolls and leveler rolls at the right hand end of the machine (Figure 2) being shown partly in section and partly broken away;

t Figure 4 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view through the magnetic'turntable, its supporting headand the carriage on which the head reciprocates';

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view, on a larger scale, showing the rack and pinion means for turning the magnetic turn-table, the section being taken on the line VV of Figure 4; 1

Figure 6 is a detail view, more or less diagrammatic, showing a pack on themagnetic turntable positioned against the solenoid operated stops;

Figure 7 is a detail View, on a larger scale, showing a portion of the magnetic turn-table and its supporting and operating means; and

Figure 8 is a section on the line VIIL-VIII of Figure 7.

The illustrated mechanism comprises a shear 2 having stationary lower knives 3 and 4 set at right angles to each other and carried by the knife block 5. Cooperating with the knives 3 and 4c are the upper knives 6 and 7 carried by the vertically movable knife block 8. The knife block 8 is reciprocated by means comprising a hori zontal crank-shaft 9 operatively connected to the knife block 8 by pitmen 10. The shaft 9 may be driven by a motor 11 through the, gear train 12 and clutch 13.

Arranged in front of the shear 2 is the magnetic turn-table 14 which supports the packs whilebeing sheared. This table comprises a base 15 on which are adapted to slide the two table ends 16. The table ends have end and side flanges 17 and 18 and partitions 19 intermediate the side flanges and in the spaces between the side flanges 18 and partitions 19 carry'electromagnets 20.

Connecting the side flanges 18' of the table ends are bars 21 having elongated slots 22 therein. Pins 23 rigidly mounted in the side flanges 18 extend through the slots 22 and have heads 24 which engage the inner faces of said bars. It will be seen by reference to Figure 1 that the bars 21, flanges17and 18-, and partitions 19 have their upper edges 'in'the' same horizontal plane. The packs rest on these edgeswhilebeing sheared and are; held in lirm' engagement therewith by thedownwardpull o tthe electromagnets which can'be energized by operating a suitable switch. The table "ends 16 have int'egraljf downwardly projecting lugs 25' at their inner ends in Which are mounted nuts 26. These" nuts engage a' right and left handed "screw 27 which extends longitudin'ally'ot' the 'ta-blefbasele and is j ournaled at its ends in' the upwardly projecting flanges 28at the ends of the table base. It is also journaled at itscen'ter in a bearing 29 having aswivetconnectionwith the table base. The table ends 16 can be separated to I the extent shown in Figure 4: or can be moved towards 'aclroth'er until'their inner ends abut by turning the screw 27. The table ends have downwardly extending parallel flanges30 whichengage the opposite side faces of the table base'15 (Figure 8) ,wherebyf the movements of the table ends are guided.

The inagnetieturn-table l lis rotatably supported u'pon'ahe'ad3l which in turn is mounted for reciprocation on a carriage 32 in" the form of a casting. A shaft '33is j'ournaled in the head 31 an'd this shaft has an--'integral'-head'3tat'its upper end upon which the tablebase15rest-s and to which itis secured bolts 35." Intei'posed between the head 34: and the head 31 is a ball bearing 36." 'The' 'shaft 33'has a reduced lower end which projects into a channel 32 in the basecast'ing 32 and journaled on said reduced lower end of the shaftis a" pinion 37, the pinion being held thereon by a nut 38 and washer 39.1 The pinion has'internal ratchet teeth 40 and'the reduced end 01" the shaft'on which the pinion is journaled has asocket 41 therein in which is mounted a plunger 42 constituting a pawl for I cooperation with the ratchet teeth. This plunger has'a stem 43 surrounded by a coil spring 44 which engages against the plunger and the bottom o' f'the socket lland yieldingly holds the plunger in'engagement with the rack teeth-"Thepinion 37 meshes with the teeth of a ratchet-bar 45 which slides upon a seateeformedin the carriage casting .32, being held on said seat by adetachable plate L6 (Figure 7). Adjacent the opposite ends of theseat areset screws 47'and 48 which limi't'the movements of the'rack bar in opposite directions on the seat. These set screws are mounted in the carriage casting 32. The head 31 has shoes 49 mounted in its lower surface which engage in grooves 50 in the carriage casting 32, whereby the reciprocatory movements of the head on the ends, whereby the opposite ends of the cyl inder can be alternately connected to a source of fluid supply. or-king in the cylinder is a piston having a piston rod Fri which is pivotally connected at its outer end to the head 31. Assuming the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, it fluid is admitted to thetorwardend of the cylinder 51 through thepipe 53, the head 31 and the magnetic turn-table supported thereby will be drawn rcarwardly. Since the pinion 37 is locked against left hand rotation by the pawl 42, the rack bar 45 will be drawn rearwardly by the pinion until it engages the adjustable stop 17. Further rearward movement of the head 31 will then cause the pinion to be turned by the rack bar and, since the pinion is locked to the shaft 33 by the pawl 12, the magnetic turn-table will be'revolved during such further rearward movement of the head 31.

By reference to Figures at and 7 it will be seen that the head 34 of the shaft 33 has two diametrically opposite sockets 55 therein into which the end of a plunger 56 carried by the head 31 is adapted to be projected when either or said sockets register-i with "he upper end of the plunger during the rotation oi the magnetic turn-table. A coil spring 57 acts on the lower end of the plunger and tends to thrust it upwardly. A pin 58 extends laterally from the lower end of the plunger through a slot 59 in the head 31 and'into an arcuate slot (50 in one arm of a bell crank lever 61 pivoted to the head 31. The other arm'o'f the bell crank lever projects downwardly and is adapted to cngage a cam plate 652 bolted to one side oi the carriage casting The upper corners of this CtUn'plRiIQ are rounded as shown in Figure 8. During the rearward movement of the head 31 and magnetic turn-table 141-. the downwardly projecting end 01 the bell crank lever engages the forward end of the cam plate and is thereby rocked in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 8) to withdraw the plunger 56 "from the socket in which it is engaged. This takes place just before the rack bar 15 engages the adjustable stop 47. During further rearward movement of the head 31, the lower end of the downwardly projecting arm of the bell crank lever rides on the upper edge of the cam plate until the rear end of the vain plate is reached. Meantime, however. the rack bar has engaged the stop 47 and the magnetic neeasra turn-table has begun to revolve so that the plunger 56 is held in retracted position by the engagement of its upper end with the lower surface of the head 3% of the shaft 33. When the magnetic turn-table has been re volved 180, the other socket registers with the upper end of the plunger 56 and the spring 57 immediately projects the plunger into the socket and locks the table against further rotation. Upward move ment of the plunger at this time is permitted by reason of the fact that the downwardly projecting arm of the bell crank lever til hasmoved out of engagement with the cam plate 62.

Tf fluid is now admitted to the rear end of the cylinder 51 through the pipe 52, the head 31 and magnetic turn-table 14 will be moved back to the position which they occupy in Figure 1. During this movement the downwardly projecting arm of the bell crank lever 61 will engage the rear end of the cam plate (52 and will be rocked thereby in a clockwise direction, this being permitted by reason of the arcuate slot in said lever. l lfhen the forward end of the cam plate is reached, the bell crank lever will again as- $111110 the position shown in Figure 8. During the initial portion of the forward movement of the head 31, the friction between the pawl 42 and the pinion 37 will be suflicient to cause the pinion to slide the rack bar 45 forward until it engages the adjustable stop 48. Thereafter the further forward movement of the head 31 will cause the pinion 37 to rotate on the shaft 33.

At the left hand end of the mechanism (Figures 1 andQ), there is a leveler 63 embodying a plurality of leveler rolls 68 driven by an electric motor 6d through gearing 65. In front of the leveler 63 is a magnetic feed roll 66 driven from the leveler rolls through a sprocket chain 67.

in the operation of this mechanism a pack of sheets P to be sheared is dragged along the floor by the workmen by means of tongs and placed on the magnetic feed roll 66, as illustrated in Figure 2. This feed roll feeds the pack, bound end foremost, between guides 68 to the leveler rolls 63; The rolls 63 feed the pack onto the table 1% which at that time occupies its rearward position, as inclicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 1. A workman slides the pack on the table into engagement with steps 69 and 70, the stops 69 engaging one side edge of the pack and the stop 70 engaging the bound end edge of the pack. These stops are adapted to accurately position the pack on the table for the shearing operation. The stops 69 and 70 are operated by solenoids 71 and 72 adjustably mounted on supports 73 and 74. These supports are in turn adjustably mountedon the frame work of the mechanism.

After the pack is positioned against the steps 09 and 70, the electromagnets 20 are energized in order to clamp the pack on the table and the solenoids 71 and 72 are simultaneously energized to raise the steps 69 and 70 out of engagement with the pack. The current to the electromagnets 20' andsolenoids 71 and 72 can be controlled by suitable switch devices. Fluid is then admitted to the rear end of the cylinder 51 through the pipe 52 and the table moves forwardly until it engages the adjustable alignment stops provided by the set screws 75 carried by the lo "er knife block 5. These stops are adjusted in accordance with the various widths of the packs which are sheared. In order to support the overhanging side edge portion of a pack and prevent it from sagging down in front pf the shear, a guide 76 is provided in front of the lower knife 3. This guide is in the form of a downwardly curved plate upon which the projecting side edge of the pack rides as the table approaches the shear, whereby said edge portion of the pack is guided over the upper edge of the lower knife block and over the lower knife 3. After the shear has been operated to shear one side edge and one end edge of the pack, fluid is admitted to the for ware end of the cylinder 51 through the pipe 53 to draw back the magnetic turn-table. During the rearward movement of the table it is automatically turned 180, as previously explained, and locked in such position. lt will be noted that the turntable moves rearwardly in a direction diagonal to the shear knives so that the pack is withdrawn some distance from both sets of knives before it is turned. The lost motion of the rack bar is provided so that the pack is pulley away from the shear a sullicient distance before turning in order that there will be no danger of the pack striking the shear while being turned.

After the able has been drawn back and turned through 180, fluid is again admitted to the rear end of the cylinder 51 and the table moved forward to the shear and the other two edges of the pack sheared off. Then fluid is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder 51 and the tube withdrawn to its initial position, indicated in dot-anddash lines in Figure 1.

At the right hand end of the mechanism (Figure 2), there is a truck 77 having traction wheels 78 running on tracks 79. The position of this truck can be adjusted by operating a hand wheel 80 which has a worm 81 at its lower end engaging a worm wheel 82 and theaide 83 of a pair of the traction wheels 78. The truck Y7 supports a leveler ti l embodying leveler rolls 85. This truck also supports astationary upper pinch roll 86 and a cooperating movable lower pinch roll 8?. The lower pinch roll is connected by links 88 to the truck 77. Normally the lower piiich roll occupies the position shown in Figure? but it is adapted to be raised by the fluid cylinder'89the piston 90 of Which is connected toa yoke 91 in which the lower pinch roll is jtiurnaled. After the tWo side edges and the two end edges of a. pack P have been sheared in the manner described and the magnetic turn table WithdraWnto its initial position, one end portion of the pack projects between the pinch rolls 86 and 87. The fluid cylinder 89 is then operated and the projecting end portion of the pack is gripped between the pinch rolls, as illustrated in Figure 6. y

The lev 'le'i rolls' are driven by an electric inotor 92 through gearing 98 and the pinch roll 86 is driven from the leveler rolls through the sprocket chain 94. After the projecting end portion of the pack has been gripped between the pinch rolls and the electric magnets 20 d'eenergized, the motor 92 is started and the pinch rolls feed the pack to the leveler rolis 85 and the latter deliver thesheared pack onto a truck or other suitable conveyor.

The carriage 32 has traction wheels 95 on its lower side Which engage tracks 96 e2;- tcnding between the levelei's and 84. One of these tracks has a rack 9? associated therevvith which is engaged by a pinion 9S on ashaift99 journaled in bearings 100 projetting-15min one side of the carriage 32. The shaft 99 has a Worm Wheel 101 on its rear end eiigaged by a Worm 102. By turning theworni 102, the carriage 32 can be moved on the tracks 96 to adjust its position relative to the levelers 62 and s4.

It'vvill be apparent that I have provided ashearing mechanism whereby the edges of a pack of sheets can be quickly and accurately sheared ivith very little handling on the'part of the workmen and in much less time than by the usual method of shearing only one edge ota pack at a time.

While I'have sho vn and described a preterredjeinbodiinent or my invention, it will be uiiderstood that the invention is not limited to the'details of construction shown described, but that the invention may be otherwise embo'died Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim; I

1. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneous 1y shear tvvo edges of'a pack or sheet. a support for holding thep'ack or sheet While bcing untreated means for turning the support into different operative positions Whereby to first present two edges of the pack or sheet to the shear and then the other two edges, substantially as described.

2.Shearingmechanism for metal sheets,

compris'inga shear adapted to simultaneous- 1y shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, and'means I01 supporting the pack or sheet While being sheared, said means being adaptedto be moved into dill'erent positions whereby to first present two edges of the pack or sheet to the shear and then the other two edges, substantially as described.

3. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adaptedto simultaneously shear two edges of a pack or sheet, a support for the pack or sheet while being sheared, and means for moving said support into and out of cooperative relation with said shear and for turning it into dili'crcni: operative positions whereby to hrst present two edges of the pack or sheet to the shear and then the other two edges, substantially as described.

at. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge oi a pack or sheet, a support for the pack or sheet While being sheared, and means for moving said support into and out of cooperative relation with said shear and for turning it into different operative positions whereby to first present two edges of the pack or sheet to the shear and then the other two edges, substantially as described.

5. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneous ly shear a side edge and an end edge 01 a pack or sheet, a support movable towards and from said shear, a table rotatably mounted on said support for supporting the pack or sheet While being sheared, and means for moving said support towards and from said shear and for reversing the position of said table thereon during such move ment of said support, substantially as described.

6. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, a rotatably mounted table for supporting the pack or sheet While being sheared, means for feeding a pack or sheet onto said table, and means for moving said table alternately into operative relation to said feeding means and to said shear, substantially as described.

7. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to sin'iultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, a rotatably mounted table for supporting the pack or sheet While being sheared, means for tending a pack or sheet onto said table, and means for moving said table alternately into operative relation to said feeding means and to said shear and for rotating said table 180 during such movement thereof, substantially as described.

8. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of .1V pack or sheet, a rotatably mounted table for supporting the pack or sheet while being sheared, means for feeding a pack or sheet onto said table, said table being movable alternately into operative relation to said feeding means and to said shear, and stops arranged in operative relation to said table when the latter is opposite said feed ing means whereby to enable the pack or sheet to be correctly positioned on said table for the shearing operations, substantially as described.

9. A shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, a. rotatably mounted table for supporting the pack or sheet while be ing sheared, means for feeding a pack or sheet onto said table, delivery mea s spaced from said feeding means for conveying a sheared pack or sheet from said table, means for moving said table alternately to a position between said feeding means and said delivery means and to a position in which it is in operative relation to said shear, and means for automatically reversing the position of said table during such movement thereof, substantially as described.

10. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, a rotatably mounted table for supporting the pack or sheet while being sheared, means for feeding a pack or sheet onto said table, delivery means spaced from said feeding means for conveying a sheared pack or sheet from sald table, means for moving sa1d table alternately to a position between said feeding means and said del.iv-

ery means and to a position in which it is in operative relation to said shear, means for automatically reversing the position of said table during such movement thereof, and stops for cooperation with the edges of a pack or sheet whereby to enable the same to be correctly positioned on said table for the shearing operations, substantially as de scribed.

11. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultane ously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, a rotatably mounted table for supporting the pack or sheet while be ing sheared, means for feeding a pack or sheet onto said table, delivery means spaced from said feeding means for conveying a sheared pack or sheet from said table, means for moving said table alternately to a position between said feeding means and said delivery means and to a position in which it is in operative relation to said shear, means for automatically reversing the position of said table during such movement thereof, and electrically controlled stops supported independently of said table for engagement with the edges of a pack or sheet whereby to enable the same to be correctly positioned on said table for the shearing operations, substantially as described.

12. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, a table for supporting the pack or sheet while being sheared, said table being adapted to be moved into different operative positions whereby to first present two edges of the pack or sheet to the shear and then the two other edges, and electr0- magnetic means for holding the pack or sheet on the table, substantially as described 13. Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, an extensible table for sup porting the pack or sheet while being sheared, said table being adapted to be moved into difierent operative positions whereby to first present two edges of the pack or sheet to the shear and the-n the two other edges, and electromagnetic means for holding the pack or sheet on the table, substantially as described.

14 Shearing mechanism for metal sheets, comprising a shear adapted to simultaneously shear a side edge and an end edge of a pack or sheet, a rotatably mounted table for supporting the pack or sheet while being sheared, means for feeding a pack or sheet onto said table, delivery means spaced from said feeding means for conveying a sheared. pack or sheet from said table, a carrier ar ranged between said feeding and delivery means and upon which said table is adapted to be moved alternately to a position be tween said feeding and delivery means and to a position in which it is in operative relation to said shear, means for reciprocating said table on said carrier, means for revere--- ing the position of said table during such movement thereof, and means for adjusting the position of said carrier with respect to said feeding and delivery means, substan tially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand,

GEORGE E. MIRFIELD.

lili) 

